Some horses might become hard keepers with age or when their workload is reduced. | iStockQ: How should I adjust nutritional plans for senior horses in work to maintain muscle and joint health?A: As performance horses age, their diet must supply enough calories to maintain body condition and fuel work, along with nutrients to support muscle tone and joint comfort. Over time it gets harder for the horse to build muscle, and aging starts to take a toll on many body systems. This makes it even more important to feed seniors the correct feed product at the recommended amount to deliver optimum (not just minimum) amounts of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.Your horse might have been able to carry good weight and stay well-muscled on a minimum amount of just about any feed in his younger years, but now the ratio of calories to nutrients and reading the feeding directions to understand minimum feeding rates is key. Does he need a ration balancer, concentrate feed, or complete feed with forage built in? Choosing the right product category will help ensure hes getting enough key nutrients, especially amino acids to support muscle tone.Becoming a harder keeper with age, stepping down in workload, or starting to have dental or digestive concerns are all reasons you might need to change the category of feed for your horse. Then, within a category, look for a product designed specifically with seniors in mind. Easy-to-chew might be the special senior feature that comes to mind first, but in some advanced senior formulas, specific support can go beyond that. Certain prebiotics have been shown to support the aging horses immune function, joint health, and metabolic response. Look for products with published research to back up such claims, but know todays senior nutrition includes more than protein, fat, and fiber.Special Feature: What to Feed Old HorsesA non-nutritional component of senior horse maintenance involves keeping them moving. Light work or trail riding is more beneficial than a total layoff for supporting old horses joints and maintaining their muscle. Finally, remember the biggest factor in keeping a senior performing comfortably for as long as possible is quality veterinary care and maintenance as needed. Nutrition sets the stage for good health, but dont forget to keep up with regular vet care.Take-Home MessageAs horses age, maintaining their body condition and performance takes more than just calories. Senior horses need diets that deliver not only energy but also the right balance of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to support muscle tone, joint comfort, and overall health. Assess whether your horse needs a ration balancer, concentrate, or complete feed, and make sure its designed for the aging horse. Pair that nutrition with consistent movement and proactive veterinary care to help your senior partner stay strong and comfortable through every season of work.Do you have an equine nutrition question? Do you have an equine nutrition question? The Horses editors want to hear from you! Submit your question via the form below. Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Submit your equine nutrition question below!(Required)CAPTCHA